Mini-Cassette: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:23, 19 December 2009

Mini-Cassettes are Transformers from the Generation 1 continuity family.

The cassette tape: the future of data storage and communications!

Mini-Cassettes (also known as Cassette Warriors or simply Cassettes) are Transformers whose alternate mode is an audio cassette. They can fit into the chest compartments of Blaster or Soundwave (while the toys can fit into either, in fiction they stick to the communicator of their own faction).

Many of the characters have communication or espionage roles. Also, many of them are redecos.

Japanese name: Cassettebot (Autobots) / Cassettron (Decepticons)

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Generation 1 cartoon

The Mini-Cassettes were largely subordinate to Soundwave and Blaster, and very loyal to them. They spent much of their time stored away in their chest waiting to be called out when the situation required it. The mini-cassettes with beast forms were treated like pets and generally did not speak.

Marvel Comics continuity

Generation 1

Mini-cassettes were more autonomous and filled in regular positions in the ranks of the Autobot and Decepticons. They could all speak, but sometimes go long periods without talking.

Toys (G1)

Decepticons

1984

1986

Ratbat (only available in a two pack with an unchanged re-release of Frenzy)

1987

1988

Squawktalk & Beastbox (combine to form Squawkbox)

Autobots

1986

1988

Grand Slam & Raindance (combine to form Slamdance)

Headmasters (Japan-only release)

Autobot W Cassettebots

'1987

Graphy & Noise (combine to form Decibel)
Dial & Saur (combine to form Legout

eHobby Exclusives

Cobalt Sentries set

Kiss Players Position Cassetron Set

eHobby Twincast re-release set

Flip Sides

Fiction-only

G1

Shattered Glass

SG Laserbeak Shattered Expectations Shattered Glass
SG Buzzsaw Shattered Glass
SG Frenzy Shattered Glass Eye in the Sky
SG Ratbat Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 28
SG Rumble Shattered Glass
SG Ravage Eye in the Sky
SG Overkill Do Over
SG Slugfest Dungeons & Dinobots Do Over

Trivia

Although originally referred to as Decepticon Cassettes in the 1984 toy catalog, all subsequent catalogs would refer to both factions as Mini-Cassettes.
Other that have been applied to the subgroups are "Spy Cassettes", used in advertisements featured in the Marvel UK comics and an organizational chart in the Transformers Annual 1987, and "Recordicon", used in a 1986 Diamond Transformers: The Movie stickerbook to describe Laserbeak. "Recordicon" has also seen recent use in the Shattered Glass profiles for Ravage and Ratbat. "Cassetticon" has been used as an unofficial fan-created term for the subgroup.
The San Diego Comic-Con 2009 reissue of Soundwave refers to the cassettes as "Deployer" figures. The term Deployer had previously been used for the small animal-to-weapon figures from the Beast Machines toy line.
In "The Agenda", despite his reformatting into a Predacon, Ravage retains his mini-cassette alternate mode, which he uses interface with his ship.
Although occasionally referred to in fiction or instructions as cassettes, the alt modes are intended to represent 1:1 scale mini-cassettes, such as you would use with a personal recording device.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Mini-cassettes were more autonomous and filled in regular positions in the ranks of the Autobot and Decepticons. They could all speak, but sometimes go long periods without talking.
-'''Autobot cassettes'''
+==Toys (G1)==
+===Decepticons===
+'''1984'''
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
+* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
+* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
+* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
+* [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Ravage]]}}
+'''1986'''
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (only available in a two pack with an unchanged re-release of Frenzy)}}
+'''1987'''
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]]
+* [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]}}
+'''1988'''
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Squawktalk]] & [[Beastbox]] (combine to form [[Squawkbox]])}}
-{{main|Autobot Mini-Cassette}}
+===Autobots===
+'''1986'''
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Rewind]]
+* [[Eject]]
+* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
+* [[Ramhorn]]}}
+'''1988'''
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Grand Slam]] & [[Raindance]] (combine to form [[Slamdance]])}}
-'''Decepticon cassettes'''
+==Headmasters (Japan-only release)==
+===Autobot W Cassettebots===
+'''1987''
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Graphy]] & [[Noise]] (combine to form [[Decibel]])
+* [[Dial]] & [[Saur]] (combine to form [[Legout]]}}
-{{main|Decepticon Mini-Cassette}}
+==eHobby Exclusives==
+===Cobalt Sentries set===
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[Garboil]]
+* [[Howlback]]}}
+===Kiss Players Position Cassetron Set===
+* [[Glit]]]
+* [[Rosanna (KP)|Rosanna]]
+* [[Sundor]]
+===eHobby Twincast re-release set===
+* [[Flip Sides]]
+==Fiction-only==
+===G1===
+{{columnlist|1|
+* [[:Image:Generic cassettes.jpg|Many]] [[generic]]s.
+* The [[Autoscout]] {{storylink|A Prime Problem}}
+* [[Playback]] {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}} }}
+===[[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]===
+{{columnlist|1|
+* SG [[Laserbeak (SG)|Laserbeak]] {{storylink|Shattered Expectations}} {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}
+* SG [[Buzzsaw (SG)|Buzzsaw]] {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}
+* SG [[Frenzy (SG)|Frenzy]]  {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} {{storylink|Eye in the Sky}}
+* SG [[Ratbat (SG)|Ratbat]] {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 28}}
+* SG [[Rumble (SG)|Rumble]] {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}
+* SG [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]] {{storylink|Eye in the Sky}}
+* SG [[Overkill (SG)|Overkill]] {{storylink|Do Over}}
+* SG [[Slugfest (SG)|Slugfest]] {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}  {{storylink|Do Over}} }}
 ==Trivia==
-*The toys of these figures have [[Wikipedia:Mini Cassette|mini-cassettes]] in roughly 1:1 scale as altmodes. The main picture in this article features a standard cassette, which is larger.
+[[Image:DiamondStickerbookRecordicons.jpg|thumb|200px]]
+*Although originally referred to as '''Decepticon Cassettes''' in the 1984 toy [[catalog]], all subsequent catalogs would refer to both factions as '''Mini-Cassettes'''.
-*The term '''Mini-Cassette''' is used in toy catalogs from 1985 onwards. It was common for '''cassette''' to be used elsewhere, such as toy instructions and fiction.
+*Other that have been applied to the subgroups are "Spy Cassettes", used in advertisements featured in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Overview 2|Marvel UK comics]] and an organizational chart in the [[Transformers Annual 1987]], and "Recordicon", used in a 1986 [[Diamond]] ''Transformers: The Movie'' stickerbook to describe Laserbeak.  "Recordicon" has also seen recent use in the ''Shattered Glass'' profiles for Ravage and Ratbat. "Cassetticon" has been used as an unofficial fan-created term for the subgroup.
+*The San Diego Comic-Con 2009 reissue of Soundwave refers to the cassettes as "Deployer" figures. The term [[Deployer]] had previously been used for the small animal-to-weapon figures from the Beast Machines toy line.
+*In "[[The Agenda (Part 2)|The Agenda]]", despite his reformatting into a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] retains his mini-cassette alternate mode, which he uses interface with his [[Transwarp cruiser|ship]].
+*Although occasionally referred to in fiction or instructions as cassettes, the alt modes are intended to represent 1:1 scale mini-cassettes, such as you would use with a personal recording device.
 [[Category:Mini-Cassettes| ]]
 [[Category:Subgroups]]